Sunday, January 16, 2011

Vodacom Cup Fixtures Released

During the week the South African Rugby Union confirmed the fixture list for the 2010 Vodacom Cup which will be played from February - May with the first round taking place on February 26. The competition is divided into two groups - the Northern and the Southern section. In last years event both groups had seven South African sides in each as well as one invitational side in each group: the Pampas XV from Argentina in the Southern Group and and the Welwitchias from Namibia in the Northern. For this years event, however, the Pampas XV will be in the Northern section. The Welwitchias play both at home as well as in South Africa but the Pampas XV only play away due to the distance between South Africa and Argentina.

The tournament is a feeder competition with the objective of getting potential Super Rugby players ready and giving them game time in a competition played at the same time as Super Rugby itself. Argentina and Namibia entered the Vodacom Cup in 2009 and did so for the same reason - to bridge the gap between domestic club rugby and, in their case, the international game. Las Pampas XV is coached by Daniel Hourcade and Mauricio Reggiardo with the pair looking to use the opportunity to Argentina´s advantage by giving the players sufficient game time to push for a place in Los Pumas and indeed in the squad for the Rugby World Cup.

The biggest win for Las Pampas in the 2010 Vodacom Cup was a 73-14 victory vs the Border Bulldogs in Round three. The Argentine side did not make the play-off´s but did play good rugby and various players from the team indeed impressed so much that and were signed to play professional rugby as a result. For instance inside centre Santiago Fernández and winger Martín Bustos Moyano both signed for Montpellier in France after impressing for the Pampas XV. Fullback Martín Rodriguez Gurruchaga was snapped up by Stade Français, scrumhalf Agustín Figuerola signed for Brive and centre Miguel Avramovic and backrower Alejandro Campos both signed for Agen. London club Harlequins signed flyhalf Benjamin Urdapilleta and Irish side Leinster signed Mariano Galarza. None of these players will feature in this years Vodacom Cup but clearly the quality of players is high and the opportunity they have is unique. The Pampas XV will feature players who represented Argentina in international matches in 2010 such as hooker Agustín Creevy, backrowers Genaro Fessia, Miguel de Achaval and Julio Farías Cabello and secondrower Santiago Guzmán.